Airline passenger gets stung by scorpion during flight

Alaska Airlines - now featuring the live inflight entertainment show - creatures of the desert.

An airline passenger travelling to Anchorage on an Alaska Airlines flight got a nasty surprise when he was stung by a scorpion he found crawling up his sleeve.

Jeff Ellis, from Oregon, was trying to sleep on the flight from Seatle when he felt something in his sleeve. He tried to brush it away but the crawling continued.

Fully awake now Jeff discovered that the crawling sensation was in fact a scorpion. “I picked my hand up and said, ‘Oh, my God. That’s a scorpion’,” he said.

Ellis said he grabbed the scorpion with a napkin, but it was too late to prevent him getting stung on the elbow, which caused a painful burning sensation.

Jeff Ellis was checked by two doctors on board and medics on the ground.

Since the flight originated in Austin, Texas, those dazzlingly intelligent Alaska Airlines officials have concluded that the scorpion got on board in the Lone Star State.

Ellis said the airline offered him some airmiles and two round-trip tickets. Newswarped thinks this is a great deal. It is not like it was a king cobra or something deadly.

There is no word on what happened to the scorpion. Poor critter. Trying to find some dark place to lay low, not bothering anyone. Then Bang! some guy whacks you a couple of times and tries to smother you with a giant napkin. Sting that sucker that is what I say.

As for Jeff Ellis. He has got a mega story to tell. Who else can start a tale with the line – “I was stung by a scorpion on the way to Alaska.”